Regarding trading in the 2024 NFL Draft, the talk is almost always about trading down from 20th overall rather than sitting still and being fine with that. Instead, one analyst believes the team could trade up for a tackle with the Seattle Seahawks.
Corbin Smith floated the idea that Pittsburgh could move up by trading the 84th overall pick to land someone like J.C. Latham, which would boost Pittsburgh’s offensive line. He also theorizes that they could move up to get a wide receiver to help out Russell Wilson.
“After signing former Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson and trading for ex-Bears quarterback Justin Fields, the Steelers now have to build around their signal callers, starting with the offensive line. In need of a tackle to protect Wilson or Field’s blind side, trading up to No. 16 may present an opportunity to select Alabama’s JC Latham or Georgia’s Amarius Mims. It’s also possible Pittsburgh may have eyes on adding another receiver to complement star George Pickens, and if someone like Washington’s Rome Odunze or LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. remains available, leap-frogging several receiver-needy teams may be enticing,” he wrote.
It is the same scenario as last year, where the team moved up three spots to grab Broderick Jones. But with so many needs, giving up draft capital, especially on day two, is hard to swallow. So, it feels unlikely that the team will make that move. Instead, it seems like the more logical choice for the Steelers would be to move down.
It seems like this year’s draft could be a perfect opportunity for the Steelers to trade down for the first time in the draft since selecting Casey Hampton in 2001. The Steelers just have so many needs — wide receiver, center, offensive tackle and slot cornerback. Those four feel like the obvious top four needs and could be classified as positions they have to draft in some respects.